Yahoo Finance Ranks President Ruto Among World’s Richest Leaders Alongside Putin and Trump

President William Ruto has been ranked among the world’s wealthiest heads of state in a comprehensive analysis by Yahoo Finance, placing him at number 11 on a list dominated by authoritarian strongmen and business magnates turned politicians.

The Kenyan leader’s estimated net worth of $400 million places him alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in a ranking that highlights the vast wealth accumulated by global political leaders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin tops the list with an estimated net worth of $200 billion, followed by North Korea’s Kim Jong Un at $5 billion and Donald Trump at $7.2 billion. The ranking underscores the extraordinary financial power wielded by some of the world’s most politically influential figures.

Putin’s wealth remains shrouded in mystery, with experts struggling to pinpoint exact figures. Former Hermitage Capital Management CEO Bill Browder testified under oath before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, estimating the former KGB officer’s fortune at the staggering $200 billion figure, which would make him one of the richest individuals globally.

President Ruto’s wealth is primarily derived from real estate investments, including ownership of the high-end Weston Hotel in Nairobi and prime properties across Kenya. The president, who assumed office in September 2022, reportedly amassed the majority of his fortune through strategic property acquisitions and business ventures.

According to the Yahoo Finance report, Ruto owns hotels valued at over $24 million in Mombasa and Mara, in addition to his flagship Weston Hotel property. He also maintains a shareholding in the Africa Merchant Assurance Company (AMACO), further diversifying his investment portfolio.

The president’s wealth places him ahead of several other African leaders on the list, though he remains less affluent than his predecessor, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who reportedly has a net worth of $500 million.

Several African leaders feature prominently on the wealth ranking. South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa is listed at $450 million, while Rwanda’s Paul Kagame is estimated to be worth $500 million.

Ramaphosa built his fortune through investments before entering politics, notably as chairman of the Shanduka Group, while Kagame’s wealth is reportedly tied to Crystal Ventures, a holding company with assets spanning various industries.

Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has ruled the oil-rich nation since 1979, appears at number six with an estimated $600 million fortune, according to Forbes estimates cited in the report.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s net worth is currently pegged at $7.2 billion by Forbes, largely attributed to the success of World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency venture he established with his three sons. This represents a significant increase from his 2016 net worth of $4.5 billion.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2025. REUTERS

The cryptocurrency business has proven so lucrative that Trump’s youngest son, Barron, age 19, is reportedly worth more than his mother, Melania Trump, with an estimated fortune of $150 million.

China’s Xi Jinping appears at number five with a possible net worth of $1.5 billion, though the true extent of his wealth remains unclear. In 2012, revelations emerged about Xi and his family’s hidden investments in multiple holding companies, including a substantial stake in property investment firm Shenzhen Yuanwei.

Despite holding some of China’s most powerful titles, Xi officially earns a modest annual salary of just $22,000, highlighting the discrepancy between official income and estimated wealth among authoritarian leaders.

The ranking has sparked political controversy in Kenya, with opposition politicians criticizing Ruto’s inclusion on the list. The president has faced questions about wealth accumulation during his tenure in public service, serving as deputy president from 2013 to 2022 before winning the presidency.

Critics have questioned how public servants accumulate such substantial wealth, particularly in countries facing economic challenges. Kenya has grappled with high inflation, unemployment, and public debt concerns during Ruto’s tenure, making the wealth disparity between leaders and citizens a contentious political issue.

The Yahoo Finance ranking relies on a combination of public disclosures, Forbes estimates, investigative reporting, and financial analysis. However, net worth estimates for world leaders remain inherently difficult to verify, particularly for those in countries with limited financial transparency.

Many leaders on the list have faced allegations of corruption or questions about the origins of their wealth. The ranking does not distinguish between wealth accumulated before entering politics and fortunes built during political tenure, though this distinction remains central to debates about political ethics.

The list highlights the extraordinary concentration of wealth among political leaders, particularly those in resource-rich countries or nations with limited democratic oversight. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is estimated to be worth $9 billion, while Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan are each valued at approximately $500 million.

In contrast, some democratic leaders appear lower on the list or are absent entirely. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, despite his background with Goldman Sachs and his tenure as governor of both the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, has assets estimated at over $21 million, substantially less than many authoritarian leaders.

The wealth rankings underscore ongoing debates about political accountability, transparency in public service, and the relationship between political power and personal enrichment across different governance systems worldwide.

This story is based on Yahoo Finance analysis and reporting. Net worth estimates are approximate and subject to debate.